Nail-feeding means.



J. GOULDBOURN 6; W. PRATT.

NAIL FEEDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED 4AM 12. 19:4.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I J. GOULDBOURN 6; W. PRATT.- NAIL FEEDING MEANS;

APPLICATION FILED JAN-12,19I4.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 2- JOSEPH GouLDnoUnN AND WILLI NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION nasaaai.

To all whom 2'25 may concern: i, 1

.Be it. known that we, JOSEPH GOULD? BOURN and WILLIAM PRATT, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain, Improvements in Nail-Feeding Means, of which the following description, in Connection with the accompanying drawings, is a, specification, likereference characters 0n the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. i v i This invention relates to nail feeding machines for inserting nails. The objects of the invention, and the problems to the solution of which it is directed, will bediscussed with particular reference to an embodiment of the invention in a machine for inserting loose nails of the type commonly called loose bills, but itwill be understood that the invention is not restricted to use with machines of this particulartype. i g i i The nail feeding means of loose nail insorting machines comprise, usually, an inclined raceway down which the nails travel underthe influence of gravity, the progress of the nails down the raceway being assisted by the oscillation of the raceway. Besides the oscillation which the raceway receives as an incident to its connection with a rapidlyoperating machine, it has usually imparted to it an oscillation or jar from some mechanism in" the machine provided for this purpose. Cooperating with the race: way to guide the nails properly into delivering relation to the insertingmeans is a cover platearranged at a distance above the upper surface of the raceway substantially equivalent to the height of a, nail head, this cover plate serving to prevent the nails from being displaced from the racewayby reason of the oscillatorymovement of the same.

In the manufacture of nailsor steel bills it has been proved to be commercially impracticable to secure absolute regards the heights of the nail heads. The

raceway covers, have, therefore, been arranged for adjustment to suit successive batches of nails. The usualmanner ofproviding for this adjustability of'the raceway cover has been to mount it on the tongue that supports it in such away that it can be raised or lowered bodily or tipped soas to elevate one end or the other, the latter op:

cSpecifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,617.

uniformity as j mama, or. LEICESTER, ENGLAND, AssIGNons, isY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED srron MACHINERY or NEW JEnsEY.

CORPORATION, PATERSON,

NAIL-FEEDING MEANS.

Patented ec. 3, i918,

eration being usually effected by tapping the cover with any convenient instrument.

An object; of the present invention is to dispense with the necessity for making this adjustment of the raceway cover and to this end a-raceway cover is provided that is freely movable upwardly away from the raceway to a limited extent, that is to say, toan extent sufiicient to compensate for the differences in the nail headheights in different batches of nails. With the cover thus freely movable the oscillation of the raceway will cause the cover to work up and down within predetermined limits and heads of different heights to slide down the raceway without jammed or thrown thus allow. nails with danger of their being out. v i a m i A further object of the invention is enable nails with heads to pass freely along the raceway and at the same time to insure that the endmost nails which are to be operated upon by the nail to of different heights 1 separating devices, areproperly controlled.

lViththis object in viewathe freely movable raceway cover is provided with a portion constructed and arranged to bear upon the adjacent parts of the heads of the endmost two nails orupon thehead of the nail next to the endmost nail in the raceway so as to insure that these nailsshall be properly controlled during the separating operations.

{To .provide for varying the extent of the freemovement of thecover to suit different requirements, the means, for determining the extent of this movement is preferably arranged for adjustment. In the nailing machine disclosed in U, S. patentto Pratt nd egs 1913, thefldelivery end of the raceway is curved through anarc of about 90 degrees and a nailtransferrer carriesthe nail from the raceway to the pointjat which the nail is No. 1,07 0,066, grantedAugust 12,

driven into the work. According to the only to j a to be understoodthattheinvention is not to be considered as limited to these specific examples.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a nailing machine of the type disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent to L. Goddu', No. 490,624, January 24, 1893, having applied thereto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views at right angles to one another of the delivery end of the raceway;

Fig. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to the curved raceway of Letters Patent No. 1,070,066;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the part shown in Fig. 4, this part being turned through a right angle to its position in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the raceway cover with its upper portion broken away; and

Fig. 7 is a plan of the end of the curved raceway.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the partsof the machine illustrated therein comprise a movable head 2 that carries an awl 4, a nail driver 6, and a cam operated lever 8 at'the lower end of which a nail separator 10 is located. A raceway 12, which is attached to and partakes of the movements of the head 2, conveys nails from a hopper or nail pot, not shown, to the separator 10. The separator moves the nails one at a time from the end of the raceway into position beneath the driver 6 which then operates to drive them into the work. These parts and their mode of operation are well known and accordingly it is deemed unnecessary further to describe them herein.

. In accordance with the present invention the cover plate for the raceway 12 is made in two parts 14 and 16, the part 14 being fixed with respect to the raceway and the part 16 being so connected with the fixed part 14 as to be displaceable transversely from over the end of the raceway and otherwise movable with respect to the raceway. The connection between the parts 14 and 16 comprises a hinge pin 18 substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the raceway 12, this pin passing through openings in the part 14 of the cover and another opening in the shank or stem 20 of the displaceable part 16. The part 14 of the cover is bifurcated so as to afford a space or recess in which the shank 20 of the other part is received, the part 16 extending beyond the lower member of the part 14 and being of such length as to bear on the nail next to the endmost nail in the raceway. (See Fig. 2.) The diameter of the holein the shank 20 that receives the hinge pin, 18 is slightly larger than the diameter of the said pin so that the displaceable part 16 can rock toward and from the surface of the raceway, and a pin 22 is passed through the shank 20 and through the hinge pin 18 at right angles to the axis of the latter and substantially at right angles to the length of the raceway and to the part 16, when said part is in position over the raceway, whereby it forms a pivot about which the displaceable part 16 turns in its movement toward and from the raceway. It will thus be seen that the part 16 of the cover can be turned on the hinge pin substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the raceway to uncover or cover the end of the raceway, and further that it can be turned through a small angle on an axis at right angles to the axis of this movement. To limit the extent of the upward. movement of the displaceable part 16 a stop is provided, which stop is conveniently made adjustable. For this purpose the upper member of the bifurcated end of the fixed part 14 is provided with a recess 23 in which is mounted a plunger 24. Between a shoulder on the plunger and the end of the recess is located a spring 26 which tends to eject the plunger from the recess. This movement of the plunger is limited by a knurled nut 28 screwed upon the threaded extension 30 of said plunger, the extension 30 passing through the wall at the end of the recess, and the nut 28 bearing upon the upper face of this wall. The amount of lost motion between the end of the plunger 24 and the dis placeable part 16 determines the upward movement of the latter, and it will be understood that the amount of this lost motion can be increased or diminished by screwing or unscrewing the knurled nut 28 on the screw threaded extension 30. The plunger 24 can also conveniently be constructed to engage and lock the displaceable part 16 from transverse movement when in operative position. For this purpose the end of the plunger, which may be beveled if desired, is adapted to engage and ride over an inclined surface 32 (see Fig. 3) on the part 16 as the said part is swung into operative position, the spring 26 being compressed during such movement of the plunger. After passing the inclined surface 82, the end of the plunger 24 drops into a recess 34 in the part 16, the distance between the bottom of the recess and the end of the plunger determinin the amount of upward movement permitted to the part 16 of the raceway cover. The plunger is prevented from turning by the provision of a keyway 36 'into which projects a pin 38 extending through the front wall of the recess 28.

The knob 40 is attached to the part 16 of: the raceway cover to serve as a handle by which the operator can swing the part 16 sidewise. This knob has ,a collar 42 which, when it is in engagement with the part 14, prevents the part 16 from being moved past its central position on its return movementinthe event that the plunger 24 should lngs in which is shown a raceway cover of the present invention applied to thec'urved raceway 44 of Letters Patent No. 1,070,066 hereinabove referred to, the cover shown therein, like thatpreviously described, comprises two parts, a part 14 fixed with respect to the raceway 44 and a displaceable part 46. The part 46 has acurvedportion 48 that covers the curved part 50 of the racewayand a portion 52 that overlies anail transferrer, not shown, which, as explained inthe specification of the Letters Patentlast mentioned, servesto transfer the nails one at a time from the end of theraceway to a point beneath the nail driver. it In other respectsthe raceway bles that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and exception that, as part of the operating mechanism for the nail transferrer is in front of the part 46, this part has to be moved backward to clear said mechanism beforeit can be swung from over the raceway, as shownin broken lines in-Fig. 6. To permit this movement of the cover, the shank 54 of the part46 is provided with a slot 56 through-which the hinge pin 18 extendsya spring 58 tending to maintain the part 46 in its foremost position] The part 46 is also; recessed at 60, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6, so that it may clear the lower end of the bifurcated end of the part 14 of the cover as it is moved backwardly and outwardly. The part 46 may be provided, if desired, with a knob and collar similar to and for the same purpose as the knob 40 and collar 42 of the part 16, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8.

In the operation of themachine the part 16 or the partac of the raceway cover will be shaken rapidly up and down by the oscillation of the raceway,

head of the nail next to the endmost nail, or

the heads of the endmost nails, will position these nails so that they may properly be acted upon by the nail separator. It will be noted that the movable raceway co'verhas a plane surface for engagingthe head of the endmost nail or the heads of several nails the hall or nails m in the raceway to hold position with the shank or shanks thereof normal to the raceway guiding surface. From another point of view, the said race way cover may be described as having a nail engaging surface parallel to the adJacent cover shown in Figs. 4 to6 resem- 3, with the stationary part and a thus assisting the H nails in their travel down the raceway, and

surface of the raceway and arranged to bear uponvthe head of one of the nails atthe lower end of the racewayto keep the nail normal to the raceway,as shown in Figs. :2 and 4 of the drawings.

If the operatorshould wish to examine the a delivery end of the raceway he can swing the part 16 or 46 to one side and then, after having completed his examination, he can return "that part into itsoperative position without disturbing the adjustment of the extent ofits up and downmotion, as this ad justment is determined by the position of. the plunger ,24. This is a particular advantage over prior constructions in which the adjustment of the cover was of necessity lost whenthe cover was removed from the raceway, and a raceway cover comprising a stationary part covering the upper portion of the raceway and a movable part covering the lower portion of the raceway belowthe end of the stationary part, said movable part normally resting upon the head of oneof the nails in the raceway and beingfreely movable bodily upwardly away from the racewa a 2 Ina machine of the class described, an oscillating raceway and a raceway cover comprising a stationary part and a movable part having a plane surface operative to holda nail normal to the raceway and pivotedforfreeup and down movement at a point locatedoutside said stationary part in the direction of the l 3. In a machine oftheclass described, a

raceway and a raceway cover comprlsing a movable part pivoted for movement up and down with respect to said raceway and also for movement substantially in the plane of thetop of said raceway at a point located outside said sta- .tionary part in the direction of the length of the raceway.

4. In a machine of the class described, an oscillatory raceway, a cover for said raceway normally resting upon some of the nails in said raceway and freely movable upwardly with respect to said raceway where byit adjusts itself automatically to differences in the heights of the heads of the nails, and means for limiting the extent of upward movement. 1

[5. In a machine of the class described, a raceway,a cover for said racewayfreely movable upwardly with respect to said raceway, and means for varying the extent of upward movement.

6. In a machine of the class described, a

engaging surface parallel to the adjacent surface of the raceway and arranged to bear upon the head of one of the nails at the lower end of the raceway to keep the nail normal to the raceway, said cover being freely movable up and down with respect to said raceway, whereby it adjusts itself automatically to differences in the heights of the heads of the nails as the nails approach the lower end of said raceway.

7. In a machine of the class described, a nail transferrer, an inclined raceway, and a raceway cover comprising a stationary part covering the upper portion of the raceway and a movable part mounted upon the sta tionary part and covering the lower portion of'the raceway and said nail transferrer, the movable part of the raceway cover normally resting upon one of the nails in the raceway and being constructed and arranged for free movement in a vertical plane, whereby said movable part adjusts itself automatically to variations in the heights of the heads of the nails in said raceway.

S. In a machine of the class described, an oscillatory raceway, and a cover for said raceway having a plane surface normally resting upon some of the nails in said race way and pivoted for free movement in a vertical plane, the arrangement being such that said cover may be moved up and down, as said raceway oscillates, to accommodate itself to the dimensions of the nail heads in said raceway.

9. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover for said raceway comprising a stationary member and a movable member, said movable member being confined upon said stationary member and being constructed and arranged for limited free movement in a vertical plane, and means for varying the amount of said free movement.

10. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, and a raceway cover supported for free movement in a vertical plane with re spect to said raceway and for movement in the plane of the upper face of said raceway to uncover said raceway.

11. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a raceway cover supported for free movement in a vertical plane with respect to said raceway and for movement in the plane of the upper face of said raceway to uncover said raceway, and a single means for holding said cover against movement in the plane of the upper face of said raceway and for guiding said cover in its movement in a vertical plane.

12. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, and a raceway cover supported for free movement in a vertical plane and arranged to be swung from a position over said raceway, and means for automatically locking said cover as it is swung into position over said raceway, said means being constructed to guide said cover in its vertical movements.

13. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, and a raceway cover arranged to swing freely with respect to said raceway in a vertical plane and also to be swung to one side to uncover said raceway, and means for automatically locking said cover as it is swung into position over said raceway, said means serving also to limit the extent of the vertical free movement of said cover.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN. \VILLIAM PRATT.

\Vitnesses FREDERICK WILLIAM VVoRTn, RICHARD ERNEST Gmmrrrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

